Project Leader: Dr. hab. Karolina Mikulska-Rumińska, prof. UMK
BioEXPAND is an interdisciplinary research project that combines the development of modern computational biophysics tools with their practical applications in biomedicine and biotechnology. The project involves both creating new methods for analyzing and visualizing molecular phenomena (using machine learning and computer graphics) and studying disease mechanisms as well as designing enzymes for industrial use. Additionally, it considers the cultural and political factors influencing the development of modern technologies, with particular attention to China.
Main areas of BioEXPAND activities:
- New research methods and tools:
- Developing innovative machine learning methods to support the analysis of molecular data.
- Accelerated sampling techniques, allowing the study of phenomena occurring on shorter timescales than traditional simulations.
- Advanced tools for visualizing biomolecular structures – realistic and interactive graphics developed in collaboration with artists.
- Expansion of existing biophysical software to enable more efficient interpretation of data from molecular simulations and biological experiments.
- Applications of computational biophysics in medicine and biotechnology:
- Analysis of lipid mediators and their interactions with proteins in the context of regulated cell death – processes important in diseases such as sepsis, asthma, Barth syndrome, and neurodegenerative disorders.
- Study of intrinsically disordered proteins, whose functions in cells remain difficult to understand.
- Investigation of potassium channels relevant in conditions such as diabetes.
- Optimization of bacterial enzymes used in industrial biocatalysis and control of their activity through interactions with photoactive compounds.
- Experimental validation of computational results in collaboration with research teams in Poland (UMK) and abroad (USA, China, Europe).
- Synergy of theory and experiment:
- Computer modeling of biological processes will be supported by experimental research conducted in Poland (UMK) and internationally, enabling practical applications of theoretical findings.
- Cultural context of new technologies:
- In collaboration with the Center for Chinese Language and Culture at UMK, the project will analyze the influence of Chinese culture and politics on the development of biotechnology and life sciences.
BioEXPAND represents a unique combination of natural sciences, biology, computer science, art, and humanities, aimed at better understanding complex processes in living organisms and contributing to the development of innovative therapies and biotechnological solutions.